Mr Kazmi added: "I'm not sure it was malicious necessarily, it looked like he was trying to snap a picture up close or ask a question.

"It was stupid behaviour. He essentially jostled and barged his way up to Jeremy."

Mr Kazmi said Mr Corbyn had been answering a question from Sky News about Copeland when the incident happened.

Sky News' political editor said Mr Corbyn described the result in Copeland as "disappointing" but has not yet aired footage of the scrum.

Mr Corbyn held a brief private meeting with Mr Snell after the photo call before travelling on to the Scottish Labour conference in Perth.

(Image: Christopher Furlong)

Speaking to the Mirror Mr Snell denied his leader was responsible for Copeland - but stopped short of giving his full support.

Asked if Copeland was Mr Corbyn's fault he said: “Well no, I don't know what's happened in Copeland so I can't really say what the ground operation was but certainly here in Stoke on Trent Jeremy came and campaigned, and as I said in my speech, when the Labour party is united, when we are determined, when we are committed, we can fight and we can win.”

(Image: Christopher Furlong)

(Image: Christopher Furlong)

Asked if he “fully supported” the Labour leader after criticism by MPs he said: “I'm not getting involved, I was elected less than 12 hours ago, I'm not getting involved in any of this stuff. My priority will be and will remain the people of Stoke on Trent Central who have put their faith in me.”

Read More

“And it was the victory of the Labour party and the Labour candidate yesterday that delivered this marvellous result in Stoke-on-Trent.

“When I was here last week Gareth put forward his plan for the Potteries. We've been working on that straight away for an economy that is based on investment, based on good jobs, based on growth, based on opportunities for everybody in our society.

“Ukip can't offer that, the Tories can't offer that, we can, we will, and we will win.”

He spent a few moments talking to an activist in a wheelchair before he left.